Words to the Wise: Arise
But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.”
Luke 8:54 NKJV
Once upon a time, we lived in a perfect world. Adam and Eve walked with God. (Genesis 3:8). Adam named the animals without toil and loved his wife, singing a romantic song just for her (Genesis 2:18-25). While we were not eternal (with no beginning and no end), we were meant to live everlasting lives.
But you know how the rest of the story ends. Eve and Adam eat the fruit God tells them not to eat. Death enters the world, and we grieve.
This is where our story begins. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue and thus most likely a Pharisee, comes to Jesus begging him to heal his "only daughter." There are two interesting truths about these facts. First, as a ruler of the synagogue, Jairus was responsible for looking after the building, looking after its contents, and arranging worship. This only increases the likelihood of him being a Pharisee - that group of people Jesus often had hard words for, and who in turn hated Jesus. The fact that Jairus came to the Christ demonstrates that unlike the other Pharisees, Jairus had some faith in God.
Secondly, Jairus came to Jesus begging him to heal his only daughter. In a culture where Pharisees prayed thanking God that they were not Gentiles, slaves, nor women, this may be perceived as unusual. I say maybe because this prayer was intended more to express gratitude to God for having access to Him through the Torah and the synagogue - which women did not necessarily have; only boys learned the Hebrew Bible.
In any case, it was clear that Jairus loved his daughter. If she was his only daughter, he likely valued her. Do you believe that God loves you with that kind of love? That when you're in trouble, He will rescue you? That he knows you by name, just like he knows the stars, and that he knows how many hairs you have on your head?
It's true.
We have already seen the story of the woman with blood, sandwiched within this story and likely chafing Jairus. After healing this woman, Jesus receives word that Jairus' daughter is dead. He tells Jairus to not fear, but to believe, and Jairus' faith is tested again. Will he believe his friends, or the Son of God?
Jesus lets the crowd stay outside and takes Jairus, his wife (and the girl's mother), and Peter, James and John inside. I find it fascinating that Luke, a medical doctor, records this story. Working as a doctor, he had likely seen death frequently.
But there was one in the room who had authority over death. Jesus says, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." Mark records that Jesus spoke in Aramaic this words, which come out to talitha cumi or talitha koum. Aramaic was the lingua franca, the common language of Israel at that time, and the word talitha is related to a Hebrew word for lamb, taleh. This indicates that Jesus was affectionate.
In this story, we see the reversal of death that Jesus brought, an undoing of the curse. Later, Jesus would die on the cross for our sins and rise again, triumphing over Satan and demons, destroying the devil's works, and setting those free who were enslaved lifelong from a fear of death. As Phil Wickham asks in the song, "His Name is Jesus,"
Who is this king? Who is this king?
His name is Jesus. He is compassionate, affectionate, tender and strong. He is the King of the world, and death no longer has dominion over Him. As Red Rocks Worship sings in the bridge of their song, "Living God,"
Death was never gonna hold you
So it's never gonna hold me
Cause You're the only thing holding onto me.
If you, like me, have experienced the fear of death, you don’t have to anymore. Jesus loves you so much that He took that death for you. Yes, Jesus was afraid, but He endured the cross, despising the shame, and now alive, sits at the right hand of God the Father. Since Jesus is alive forever, we will be too, and with Him in heaven forever.
It takes great love to heal and die for sinners. But Jesus did it, and He did it because He is love. His love is kind, protective, and hopeful- it has a desired and accomplished end. And that, my sisters, is good news.
Discussion Questions
How does it impact your view of God that He showed affection to this twelve-year-old girl? Does it surprise you that God is affectionate?
How does it make you feel that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and thus death no longer has power over Him?
What is one thing you want to do this week to remind yourself that you no longer need to fear death because you will live forever with God?